Portable shampooing unit

ABSTRACT

A portable shampooing unit for washing the hair of bedridden patients wherein the shampooing unit is a substantially selfcontained unit requiring only the provision of common electrical house power while in use. The unit comprises a portable cart having a shampoo bowl in communication with a water source and a waste water container and a water heating unit for the water source. The entire unit is particularly designed and constructed to be rolled to the bedside and used for washing the patient&#39;&#39;s hair while the patient is in bed.

United States ate t [1 1 3,694,826

Pugh 51 Oct. 3, 1972 [54] PORTABLE SHAMPOOING UNIT 3,013,280 12/ 1961 Coffman et a1. ..4/159 72 Inventor: Mary A. Pugh Rt 2 BOX 273 3,407,411 /1968 Stevens ..4/159 X Muskogee, Okla. 74401 Primary Examiner-Frederick L. Matteson [22] 1970 Assistant Examiner-Henry K. Artis [21] Appl. No.: 85,604 Att0mey-William S. Dorman 52 us. Cl ..4/1se [57] ABS [51] Int. Cl. ..A47k 3/12, A6lh /00 A portable shampooing unit for washing the hair of [58] Field of Search ..4/159, 170, 185 bedridden patients wherein the shampooing unit is a substantially self-contained unit requiring only the References Cited provision of common electrical house power while in UNITED STATES PATENTS use. The unit comprises a portable cart having a shampoo bowl in communication with a water source and a 3,192,537 1965 Coffman 6t 159 waste water container and a water heating unit for the 2,318,535 1/1958 f p X water source. The entire unit is particularly designed Gllntz and constructed to be rolled to the bedside and used 2,682,058 6/1954 Wolfe ..,.....4/ 159 for washing the patients i while the patient is in 2,759,195 8/1956 McAdon ..4/159 2,760,207 8/1956 Glintz ..4/159 2,859,082 11/1958 Logue ..4/159 X 5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 30 22 g 2 ".4 3:. I Z5 ragk a 25 PATENTEDHBH an I 3.694.826

' INVENTOR.

Ma I)! A. Pay/2 BY O FIG. 5 A ATTORNEY This invention relates to portable shampooing units and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a portable shampooing unit which is particularly designed and constructed to be virtually self-contained and to be used for washing the hair of bedridden patients in hospitals, nursing homes and the like with a minimum of disturbance to said patients.

The washing of the hair of bedridden patients in hospitals and nursing homes as well as in private homes is very difficult for both the patient and the operator. One widespread method of cleaning or shampooing the hair of a bedridden patient is dry shampooing. This type of shampooing has not proven satisfactory, and wet shampooing of the hair is the most satisfactory method. However, with presently available equipment and methods, wet shampooing requires a substantial amount of jostling the patient around and further requires that the patients head be moved over a tray or bowl for both the washing and rinsing phases of the shampooing operation. The tray or bowl for holding the washing and rinsing liquids as used above must be emptied often during the shampooing operation and is normally very cumbersome to handle. Applying water to the patients hair can also be very difficult and messy in addition to the difficult problem of providing water at a comfortable temperature at the patients bedside.

The present invention contemplates a novel portable shampooing unit for wet shampooing or washing the hair of bedridden patients and is particularly designed and constructed for overcoming the above disadvantages. The unit is first of all completely portable and can be easily rolled to a position adjacent a bedside, taking a minimum amount of space and without requiring that the usual bedside tables be moved out of the way. The present invention is compact and substantially self-contained, requiring only the provision of common electrical house power while in use. The unit is particularly designed for ease of servicing, cleaning and maintenance between uses. A very important feature of the present invention is that of being able to shampoo the patients hair with very little disturbance to the patient and with virtually no mess whatsoever. The unit comprises a wheeled cart having a water reservoir in communication with a shampooing bowl by suitable hoses or conduits for directing the water to the bowl. A heating unit is provided on the cart for heating the shampooing water. The shampoo bowl is connected with a waste water container by suitable conduits for draining or removing the used water with a minimum of discomfort to both the patient and operator.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a novel shampooing unit for wet washing the hair of bedridden patients and which is of simple construction, compact in design and completely portable.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel portable shampooing unit for washing the hair of bedridden patients which is substantially self-contained and requires only the provision of common electrical house power during use.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a novel portable shampooing unit for wet washing the hair of bedridden patients whereby the shampooing operation may be efficiently performed with a minimum of mess and disturbance and discomfort of the patient.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a novel portable shampooing unit for washing the hair of bedridden patients which is simple and efiicient in operation and economical and durable in construction.

Other and further objects and advantageous features of the present invention will hereinafter more fully appear in connection with a detailed description of the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a'perspective view of a shampooing unit embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a shampooing unit with the top removed for purposes of illustration.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a shampoo tray such as utilized in the invention.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the shampoo tray shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the shampoo tray shown in FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference character 11th generally indicates a portable shampooing unit for washing the hair of bedridden patients. The unit it) comprises a housing 1 l which is provided with a plurality of wheels 12 suitable secured to the bottom thereof. The wheels 12 may be of any well known caster type and as shown herein are journalled on mounting brackets 113 designed and constructed whereby the brackets 13 and wheels 12 may be rotatable in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis for facilitating movement of the cart in any direction as is well known. The housing 11 is provided with a horizontally disposed elongated handle 14 rigidly secured to one end thereof in any suitable manner (not shown) for facilitating manipulation of the unit 10. A lid or cover 15 is hingedly secured along the rearward edge of the housing 11 (hinges not shown) and is provided with a supporting means (not shown) for temporarily locking said lid 15 in an open position when the unit 10 is in use, as is well known. A plurality of suitable slidable storage drawers 17 are provided for the housing 11 and are preferably disposed along one side of the front of the housing 11 for storage of a wide variety of items (not shown) used in the washing and setting of hair. A door 19 is provided on the other side of the front of the housing 11 and is hingedly secured along one side thereof to the front of the housing 11 for providing ac cess to the interior thereof.

As particularly shown in FIG. 2 a waste water tank 16 is disposed within the housing 11 in the proximity of the door 19 and is preferably rigidly mounted on or secured to the floor of the housing 14 in any well known manner (not shown). The drain or waste water tank 16 is provided with a suitable valve drain spigot (not shown) or drain port (not shown) at or near the base of the tank 16 for facilitating emptying or draining thereof, as will be hereinafter set forth. The top of the waste water tank 16 as shown herein is closed and is provided with a T-type hose connection member 21, the base of which is suitably secured to the tank top and extends downwardly therethrough for providing open communication between the interior of the tank 16 and both arms or branches of the connection member 21.

A pair of suitable conduits or flexible hoses 18 and 20 are connected to the opposite arms of the connection member 21 in the usual manner and extend outwardly therefrom in opposite directions as clearly shown in FIG. 2. The hose 1% is retractably secured to the hose 18 for a purpose and in a manner as will be hereinafter set forth.

The hose 20 is retractably secured against the inner periphery of the housing oppositely disposed from the retractable connection of the hose l8, and is retractably secured in any well known manner (not shown). The hose 20 extends through a sleeve or port 24 provided in the said opposite sidewall of the housing 11, and the outer end 25 of the hose 2b is preferably of a larger diameter than the port 2 or is provided with suitable stop means whereby the outer end 25 will remain exteriorly disposed with respect to the housing 11. If desired, suitable plug members (not shown), valves (not shown), or the like may be provided for the ports 22 and 2 1, or for the end members 23 and 25, for selective closing thereof during use of the apparatus M, as will be hereinafter set forth.

A cold water storage tank 26 of any suitable configuration is disposed within the housing ill and as shown herein is preferably suitable mounted on the inside wall of the housing ii in any well known manner (not shown). A hose coupling or sleeve member 28 is provided on the storage tank 26 and is preferably disposed in the proximity of the base or lower portion thereof for connection with a hose or conduit 27. The hose 27 is retractably secured against the inner surface of the wall of the housing 111, in any well known manner (not shown) and extends therethrough for receiving a suitable spray heat 29 on the outer end thereof.

A hot water storage tank 30 of any suitable configuration is disposed within the housing Ill and is provided with a suitable fluid transfer conduit 31 whereby hot water from the tank 34% may be transferred to the tank 26 to provide a supply of water in the tank 26 at a proper or most desirable shampooing temperature. This transfer of hot water may be accomplished by a suitable transfer pump (not shown) or by gravity feed through a suitable valve (also not shown). The hot water tank 30 is preferably mounted or secured within the housing ill at a higher elevation than the cold water tank 26 in the event the gravity feed method is used. in addition, an electric heater 32 is also provided for the hot water tank 3t) having the usual heating element (not shown) for heating the water in the storage tank 30, as is well known. The heater 32 is provided with the usual electrical power cord 33 which extends through the wall of the housing ill and is journalled or supported by a suitable annular insulation plug 35. The outer end of the cord 33 is provided with a usual or normal electrical connector 3'7 which may be connected with the house power for activating the heating element 32. A suitable pump (not shown) is also provided for pumping the water from the tank 26 and through the hose 27 for a purpose as will be hereinafter set forth.

A removable or portable shampoo tray 34 is provided for the apparatus lit) and is preferably stored in one of the drawers 17 when the unit it is not in use,

and preferably in the uppermost drawer. The shampoo tray 34, as particularly shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, comprises a basic open top box portion 36 having upwardly extending side walls 39 around the peripheral edges thereof. The rear portion of the box 36 is provided with a cover plate 38 which extends forwardly over a portion of the box as to provide for accumulation of water in the box 36 therebelow when the tray is tilted upwardly at the front, as will be hereinafter set forth. The wall 39 disposed along the front edge of the box 36 and spaced from the cover 38 is provided with a centrally disposed arcuate recess 2- for supporting the neck of the patient therein during the hair shampooing operation. The shampoo tray 34 is supported at an angle with respect to the horizontal by suitable leg members generally indicated by reference character 42 whereby the rear portion of the tray portion as may be disposed at a lower elevation than the front portion thereof when the tray 34 is in use.

Oppositely disposed transversely extending drain ports i -ii and as are provided in the side walls 39 at the rearward portion of the box 36, and a utility or spare hose 415 may be provided, if desired, for a purpose as will be hereinafter set forth. in addition, suitable valves 48 and 5t) or other stop means, are provided for the drain ports 44 and 46, respectively, for permitting selective opening of the ports during use of the shampooing tray 33 3. The hose &5 may be conveniently stored within the housing 31 when not in use, as shown in H6. ll.

Of course, suitable on-off switches (not shown) may be provided for the pumping apparatus, and the heating unit may also be provided with an on-off switch, if desired, or may depend merely upon connection and disconnection of the plug 37 with the usual house current for operation thereof.

it is preferable that the capacity of the tanks 16, 26 and 3h be selected for holding a sufficient quantity of liquid for assuring an adequate supply for at least one complete shampooing operation. For example, the capacity of the hot water tank 30 may be 6 gallons, the capacity of the cold water tank 26 may be 7% gallons and the capacity of the waste water tank 16 may be fourteen gallons. Of course, there is no intention of limiting the invention to any particular capacity size for the tanks. in addition, suitable thermostat means may be provided for the hot water tank 30 and the heater 32.

When it is desired to shampoo the hair of a bedridden patient the unit may be prepared by filling the hot water storage tank 3th with water in any well known manner and partially filling the cold water storage tank 26, leaving enough storage capacity in the tank 26 to permit the addition of hot water thereto through the water transfer conduit 31 from the hot water tank 30. The unit lltl may then be rolled into a position adjacent the bedside of the bedridden patient and the heater connector 37 may be plugged into the usual electrical wall socket (not shown) as is well known for activating the heater 32 whereby the water in the tank 30 will begin heating or maintain heat if the water therein is already hot. The shampooing tray 34 may be removed from the storage drawer l7 and placed under the pa tients head in a comfortable position with the patients neck being supported by the arcuate recess 40 and the patients head being disposed in or above the open forward portion of the box 26, said tray being disposed at an angle with-respect to the horizontal that the rearward portion and associated drain ports 44 and 46 are disposed at a lower elevation than the forwardportion thereof. The hot water in the tank 30 may then be added to and mixed with the water in the tank 26 through the conduit 3l to reach a desired temperature. The aforementioned pumping means (not shown) for the hot water tank 30may be utilized for moving the hot water through the conduit 31 and into the tank 26, or the water may flow by gravityv through the conduit 31. In the event the gravity flow system is utilized, it is preferable to provide a suitable valve means (not shown) for controlling the flow of the water from the tank 30. When the water in the tank 26 has reached the desired temperature, the flow of water from the tank 30 may be ceased, and the water in the tank 26 is then ready for use during a shampooing v operation. Of course, should the temperature of the water in the tank 26 become too cool for comfort, as the water is used during the shampooing of the hair, additional hot water may be selectively admitted or addedto the tank 26 from the tank 30. It will be apparent that a float valve (not shown) or the like, may be provided in the tank 26 for automatically stopping the flow of water from the tank 30 when the water in the tank 26 reaches a predetermined level.

The outer end of one of the drain hoses, such as the end 23 of the hose 18 may then be connected to one of the drain ports, such as the drain port 44, of the shampooing tray 34, and the hose 18 may be pulled longitudinally for pulling the hose outwardly with respect to the housing 1 1. The hose 18 is then opened in the event a plug or valve member is provided therefore, and the valve 48 is opened, thus establishing a drain passageway from the shampooing tray 34 to the drain or waste water tank. Of course, the valve 50 of the port 46 is closed to preclude discharge of water therethrough. In the event the distance between the shampoo tray 34 and the housing 11 is greater than the length of the hose 18, the hose 45 may be interposed between the end 23 and the drain port 44.

The spray head 29 may then be manually grasped by the operator of the apparatus 10, and the hose 27 may be pulled outwardly from the housing 11 whereby the spray head 29 may be moved into the proximity of the shampooing tray and the head of the patient being shampooed. The pumping apparatus for the water tank 26 may be activated whereby the warm water will be delivered through the hose 27 and to the spray head 29 whereupon the shampooing operation may then be commenced in the usual manner. Of course, the pumping apparatus for the water tank 26 may be actuated by a switch or the like (not shown) provided on the hose 27 for facilitating stopping and starting of the pump in order to permit control of the flow of water to and through the spray head 29.

During the hair washing operation, the water collects in the tray of box portion 36, and the accumulated water is discharged therefrom through the open drain port 44 and is delivered through the hoses 45 and 18 into the tank 16. The shampooing tray 34 is provided with two oppositely disposed drain ports 44 and 46 and the housing 11 is provided with two drain hoses l8 and 20 in order to permitthe drain hoses to'be connected with the most convenient port and most convenient hose with regard to the relative position of the unit 10 with the patient, thus preventing the necessity of suspending hoses and the like across the patients bed or any other inconvenient arrangement. The spray head 29 as shown herein is substantially centrally disposed with respect to the length of the housing 11, but it will be apparent that two outlets and two hoses may be'provided from the water tank 26, if desired, with the hoses extending to the opposite sides of the housing and each being provided with independently operable spray heads.

When the hair washing operation has been completed, and the shampoo tray 34 and hose 45 have been drained, the hose 45 may be disconnected from the tray 34 and conveniently stored in the housing 11. The hoses 18, 20 and 27 may be fully retracted into the housing ,1 l, and the shampoo tray 34 may be stored in the drawer 17. The entire unit 11 may be removed from the bedside of the patient and moved to a new site for use. Of course, the tank 16 may be drained prior to reuse of the apparatus 10 by connecting the hose 45 with the drain plug (not shown) of the tank 16 and permitting the waste water to drain into a suitable drain area, and the water tanks 26 and 30 may be refilled as hereinabove set forth in order to prepare the apparatus 10 for the next shampooing operation.

In addition, it is to be noted that the shampooing tray 34 may be utilizedin and of itself as a portable shampooing apparatus, if desired. A suitable conduit or hose having a spray head provided at one end thereof may be connected'at the opposite end with the usual faucet outlet of alavatory, and a second conduit may be connected at one end with one of the drain ports of the shampoo tray and the opposite end thereof may be placed in the drain area of the lavatory, and removably secured therein in any suitable manner. The water from the lavatory may thusbe utilized for washing the hair in the shampoo tray 34 and the waste water will be drained therefrom through the drain'hose to the lavatory in the manner as hereinbefore set forth.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that the present invention provides a compact, self-contained, portable shampooing unit for washing the hair of bedridden patients which is particularly designed and constructed for efficiently and quickly wet shampooing a bedridden patients hair with a minimal disturbance of the patient and with substantially no mess whatsoever. The novel shampooing unit is simple and efficient in operation and economical and durable in construction and is particularly designed and con-' structed for ease of servicing and maintenance thereof.

Whereas the present invention has been described in particular relation to the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable shampooing unit for washing hair of bedridden patients and comprising a housing, cover means provided on the housing permitting access to the interior thereof, a plurality of wheels provided on said housing for mobility thereof, a cold water storage and mixing reservoir housing provided in the housing, a hot water storage housing provided in the housing, heating means provided in the housing in association with the hot water storage housing for heating the water therein, transfer means extending between the hot water storage housing and the cold water storage and mixing reservoir housing for selectively directing hot water into the cold water storage and mixer reservoir housing whereby the hot water may be mixed with the cold water therein to provide a preselected warm temperature for the water in the mixing reservoir, shampooing tray means removably disposed within the housing for selective placement under a patients head at a position remote from and supported independently of the housing during a hair washing operation, said shampooing tray means being provided with drain port means, conduit and spray head means operably connected with the mixing reservoir housing and extendable between the reservoir housing and the shampooing tray means, pump means provided for the mixing reservoir for moving warm water therefrom through the conduit and spray head means for delivering warm water from the mixing reservoir to the shampooing tray means, waste water tank means provided in the housing, conduit means extending between the drain port means of the shampooing tray to the waste water tank means for discharging water from the shampooing tray during the hair washing operation at said remote position with respect to the housing.

2. A portable shampooing unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein the hot water storage housing is disposed at an elevation higher than the cold water storage and mixing reservoir housing whereby water may be moved by gravity through the transfer means to the cold water storage and mixer reservoir housing.

3. A portable shampooing unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein the shampooing tray comprises a relatively shallow substantially rectangular box having a neck receiving recess provided on one side thereof, a cover member spaced from the neck receiving means and covering only a portion of the box to provide an accumulation chamber therein, support leg members provided on the box and pivotally secured to the lower side thereof for movement to alternate support and storage positions, said support leg members supporting the box on the patients bed in an angular position with respect to the horizontal during a hair washing operation whereby the neck receiving recess means is disposed at a higher elevation than the accumulation chamber, and said drain port means comprises at least one port provided in the box in the accumulation chamber for draining water from the box by gravity.

4. A portable shampoo tray for washing hair of bedridden patients comprising a relatively shallow substantially rectangular box, a neck receiving recess provided along one side edge of the box, a cover provided on one end of the box spaced from the neck receiving recess and covering a portion of the box to provide an accumulation chamber therein, leg means secured to the underside of the box and movable to alternate positions for storage and for support, said leg means supporting the box directly on the bed of the patient in an angular position with respect to the horizontal whereby the neck receiving recess is disposed at a higher elevation than the accumulation chamber during a hair washing operation, at least one drain port provided in the accumulation chamber, conduit means for directing shampooing water to the tray, and conduit means connected with the drain port for draining water from the accumulation chamber during a hair washing operation.

5. A portable shampoo tray as set forth in claim 4 wherein the box comprises a substantially flat rectangular bottom member having upstanding sidewalls extending therearound, providing an open type box construction, said cover member being secured over one end of the open box for providing said accumulation chamber, and said neck receiving recess being provided in the upstanding sidewall oppositely disposed from the cover member. 

1. A portable shampooing unit for washing hair of bedridden patients and comprising a housing, cover means provided on the housing permitting access to the interior thereof, a plurality of wheels provided on said housing for mobility thereof, a cold water storage and mixing reservoir housing provided in the housing, a hot water storage housing provided in the housing, heating means provided in the housing in association with the hot water storage housing for heating the water therein, transfer means extending between the hot water storage housing and the cold water storage and mixing reservoir housing for selectively directing hot water into the cold water storage and mixer reservoir housing whereby the hot water may be mixed with the cold water therein to provide a preselected warm temperature for the water in the mixing reservoir, shampooing tray means removably disposed within the housing for selective placement under a patient''s head at a position remote from and supported independently of the housing during a hair washing operation, said shampooing tray means being provided with drain port means, conduit and spray head means operably connected with the mixing reservoir housing and extendable between the reservoir housing and the shampooing tray means, pump means provided for the mixing reservoir for moving warm water therefrom through the conduit and spray head means for delivering warm water from the mixing reservoir to the shampooing tray means, waste water tank means provided in the housing, conduit means extending between the drain port means of the shampooing tray to the waste water tank means for discharging water from the shampooing tray during the hair washing operation at said remote position with respect to the housing.
 2. A portable shampooing unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein the hot water storage housing is disposed at an elevation higher than the cold water storage and mixing reservoir housing whereby water may be moved by gravity through the transfer means to the cold water storage and mixer reservoir housing.
 3. A portable shampooing unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein the shampooing tray comprises a relatively shallow substantially rectangular box having a neck receiving recess provided on one side thereof, a cover member spaced from the neck receiving means and covering only a portion of the box to provide an accumulation chamber therein, support leg members provided on the box and pivotally secured to the lower side thereof for movement to alternate support and storage positions, said support leg members supporting the box on the patient''s bed in an angular position with respect to the horizontal during a hair washing operation whereby the neck receiving recess means is disposed at a higher elevation than the accumulation chamber, and said drain port means comprises at least one port provided in the box in the accumulation chamber for draining water from the box by gravity.
 4. A portable shampoo tray for washing hair of bedridden patients comprising a relatively shallow substantially rectangular box, a neck receiving recess provided along one side edge of the box, a cover provided on one end of the box spaced from the neck receiving recess and covering a portion of the box to provide an accumulation chamber therein, leg means secured to the underside of the box and movable to alternate positions for storage and for support, said leg means supporting the box directly on the bed of the patient in an angular position with respect to the horizontal whereby the neck receiving recess is disposed at a higher elevation than the accumulation chamber during a hair washing operation, at least one drain port provided in the accumulation chamber, conduit means for directing shampooing water to the tray, and conduit means connected with the drain port for draining water from the accumulation chamber during a hair washing operation.
 5. A portable shampoo tray as set forth in claim 4 wherein the box comprises a substantially flat rectangular bottom member having upstanding sidewalls extending therearound, providing an open type box construction, said cover member being secured over one end of the open box for providing said accumulation chamber, and said neck receiving recess being provided in the upstanding sidewall oppositely disposed from the cover member. 